Breakthrough With Tony Robbins - Love Conquers All

Last month, Tony Robbins launched a new primetime television series on NBC called Breakthrough with Tony Robbins.

It was due to be a 6-part series in which he works with six families to help them overcome various crises they are experiencing. I really enjoyed watching the program and was really looking forward to the other episodes. I felt inspired and motivated by what I viewed. However, I'm sad to report that the show was cancelled after just two episodes.

The first episode was called "Love Conquers All" and in this episode Tony worked with Frank and Kristen Alioto.

This couple get married in Mexico but what should have been one of the happiest days of their lives turned out to be one of their most tragic and traumatic. During the wedding reception Frank jumped into a swimming pool and broke his neck. He instantly became a quadriplegic.

And so when they should have been celebrating the Aliotos found themselves in a foreign hospital, facing a very uncertain future. When they returned to the US, Frank and Kristen became prisoners of their own home - afraid to venture out into what was once familiar but now hostile territory. They still deeply loved each other but Frank was wracked with guilt and Kristen who, in a split second, had been transformed from wifr to caretaker often felt frustrated and resentful.

They both frequently and futilely thought to themselves "What if..."

What Tony Robbins accomplishes with this couple is truly remarkable. And I don't want to give too much away, for if you haven't already seen the program I strongly recommend that you watch it. All, I will say is that he in order for them to achieve their personal breakthrough he makes them take a leap of faith.

If you live in the US you can watch replays of Breakthrough with Tony Robbins at www.Hulu.com. You can also watch highlights and behind-the-scenes videos of the program at:

http://www.BreakthroughInsider.com

Another treat in store for you at this website is Tony's analysis of his strategy in helping each family to achieve their breakthrough. He also challenges you to go for your own personal breakthrough. It's a great program to watch if you want to 'escape' your current situation and learn tools on how to achieve something more significant with your life. However, it's not a program watch if you're seeking mere escapism.

With so much mind-numbing television I found this program to be a breath of fresh air and very timely as, especially in this current economic climate, so many families are experiencing crises of one kind or another at this time. And people are looking for solutions.

It's important to note that these families did not nominate themselves for this program. Knowing all too well, how many people nowadays are simply seeking their "five minutes of fame", families for this program were nominated by others.

And the circumstances that each of the families in crisis found themselves in are circumstances that everyone can relate to in one way or another. For instance, even although you may not be a quadriplegic, it's highly likely that you've experienced feeling trapped in some area of your life. However, Tony Robbins reveals that one of the reasons he chose to work with the Aliotos is because when he conducted a survey of North Americans to find out what they were most fearful of the majority of individuals said that they were most fearful of becoming a quadriplegic and not being able to take care of themselves. Interesting, huh?

Now this program was filmed about a year ago and so another thing I like about this program is that on the Breakthrough with Tony Robbins website you can find out where these families are today. The breakthroughs are lasting and, as for the Aliotos, they've had to face other very tough challenges since the filming of the program but they are doing things that even I haven't done yet.

So remember:

"Whatever happens in your life, you are more than any moment. There's no challenge you can't overcome. The events of our lives don't control our lives - our decisions do."
Tony Robbins

Is Your Business in a Spiritual Closet?

By Kathleen Gage

Over the last few years there has been a substantial increase in the number of entrepreneurs who have come out of the "spiritual closet". They bring their highest values and calling to the unfolding of their business.

Most believe their business is an expression of their spiritual beliefs. It allows them the freedom, creativity, connection and contribution they deeply desire to live on a daily basis.

In a perfect world, once someone becomes aware of how closely connected business and spirit can be there would never be any upsets or challenges. Thank goodness we don't live in a perfect world.

When something happens that literally turns life upside down, even those with incredibly solid spiritual foundations may waiver in their level of trust.

Does this make them phony, bad or wrong? Not at all. It's an important reminder that no matter how spiritual we are we are also human. Life upside down experiences allow for a deeper level of trust than previously experienced - if we are open to this.

As someone who has been on a conscious spiritual journey for over three decades resulting in a deep understanding of the connection between business and spirituality, I have had plenty of opportunities to experience my humanness. Many were business related. Did I handle all with grace? Nope! In some cases, not even close.

Yet, with each experience I was able to go deeper into my commitment to a more giving, loving, joyful, and trusting way of life.

Do I have it down pat? Not by a long shot. But I know the more I utilize the insights I have been taught, the tools I have been given and the awareness I enjoy, the simpler it all becomes.

The beauty of this journey of life is we are constantly allowed the opportunity to choose how we live our beliefs. Take business; each and every day we make choices that are either in line with who we claim to be or we make choices that move us out of alignment with our path.

Consider this, the highest level of spiritual expression is such that we enhance the lives of those we do business with. Whether it be our colleagues, clients, customers, vendors or employees we are in a position to create a connection that enhances everyone concerned.

Yet, with all the pressures we are daily confronted with what can we do to stay the course? First, make the decision. It's that simple.

Recently I had a conversation with someone who claimed he is "trying" to make some positive changes in many areas of his life. He gave all sorts of reasons as to why his trying isn't producing results.

"Maybe it's time you quit trying and just do what you know you need to do," I responded.

It's the same with how one runs their business. Although we may claim to desire a strong connection between our business and our spiritual beliefs if we only "try" to achieve this we will likely experience frustration, feelings of self betrayal and confusion about our true purpose.

In the 15 plus years I have been in business I have had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing entrepreneurs. Men and women who utilize spiritual principles in their business maintaining an awareness of the impact even their smallest actions have on others.

More every day, entrepreneurs are willing to step into their truth. A truth that is shifting the way they are conducting business. A truth that supports honesty, contribution, gratitude, collaboration, and abundance.

Imagine what it would be like to run your business in such a way that you knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that everything you do, no matter how big or how small, would truly improve your customers lives. An improvement that creates a ripple effect that brings a higher level of awareness to untold numbers of people.

If you've been "trying" to achieve this type of business, but still struggle doing so wouldn't you agree it's time to stop trying and simply live it?

When we've been shown what is possible we not only have a responsibility to live our truth as fully as possible, we have the honor to do so.

For far too long far too many people have maintained the belief, "Let others take the risk. Let others lead the way."

We must stop this nonsense. It's time to quit "trying" and do whatever it takes to step up to the spiritual plate.

Know this… as we move to a higher level of awareness we will likely experience things that may not be in our conscious plan yet they are in our higher plan. So relax, trust the process and enjoy the journey to a higher purposed business.

About the Author

Kathleen Gage is an Internet marketing advisor who works with spiritually aware speakers, authors, coaches and consultants who are ready to turn their knowledge into money making products and services. Find out how you can learn from Kathleen on how to build a successful business using the Internet through her Street Smarts Marketing VIP Club

Staying In Tune with Your Soul While Running Your Business

Video: Success Coach Allison Maslan on Sonoran Living - ABC Phoenix

Guest Post by Allison Maslan...

Have you ever impulsively jumped on a great new idea to make money only to find that your enthusiasm dwindled after the first week or two? Have you started a hobby that a friend got you fired up about, dropping a big investment to get started, but soon after you completely lost interest?

In order for an activity or goal to sustain itself long enough to be successful through life's ups and downs, there must be meaning or a passion behind it. This love of your work, relationship, hobby or practice is the glue that will keep you cherishing your wins and picking yourself up after your losses as you progress on your path toward success. When an activity or goal has meaning to you, you are more likely to give your heart and soul to this cause, making sure that you stay focused, labor over every detail, and absorb yourself in every moment. When you spend time on efforts that really matter to you, it's much more probable that you'll make the commitment that’s necessary to build a lasting entity.

Millions of people desire to leave the confines of the corporate world to start their own business. Even though they fantasize about the idea of freedom, they become paralyzed with fear at the thought of leaving a safe, secure job. I talk to people all day who tell me they are feeling empty as if something is missing in their daily lives. They spend three quarters of their lives at a job void of soul and passion. Their creativity and drive are buried so deep within them they feel numb and shut down. The status quo, title and a paycheck are not enough anymore. They have upped the ante. They now want to be inspired and fulfilled with purpose in their home and work life.

Then there are those who have taken the haphazard plunge into a business that they are not passionate about, and find themselves feeling like they have fallen into the drudge of yet another boring job. What was once their mission becomes their biggest nightmare. After a few years of being disillusioned they opt to throw in the towel. This does not need to happen!

When the purpose of your business matters to you on a deeper level, your efforts will endure. And when you reach your meaningful goals, success will feel like a shining glory. When you have built something you can be proud of, something you are completely passionate about, the satisfaction is not only in the outcome, it's in the day-to-day process. If you're only working toward the destination and not reveling in the journey, you miss out on the abundance of life. When you are only focused on the goal , you may find yourself thinking, "Is that all there is?" while feeling empty, sad and bored, and once again, unfulfilled.

What's the difference between those entrepreneurs who are optimistic and moving forward and those who are just getting by? I believe that much of it has to do with how you view the glass – half full or half empty. George Sheehan (author, track star, cardiologist), once said,

"Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be."

People with a positive outlook and a life plan don't get off the track when things change – they just change tracks.

As a life and business strategist, I spend a great deal of time helping clients tap into their passions, and then guiding them to create a business that reflects their inner purpose and dreams. Particularly in this economy, if you are a business owner that is having some slower weeks or months, it is crucial that you stay connected to your mission and why you started the business in the first place. If the business is only about making money, there is not much heart or soul to draw from to get you through.

Here are a few tips to feeding the soul in yourself and your business.

~ Surround yourself with inspiring and motivating people. You may find that your usual crew begins to lean toward the negative side of life when times get tougher. Seek out those people who are supportive of your goals. Join groups or seek counseling to keep you motivated and accountable.

~ Be Easy on yourself. Change and transformation can bring up all sorts of good, bad and ugly stuff. When you feel yourself struggling, take a break. When you have small successes, give yourself kudos for all your hard work and continue to move on toward your bigger visions and dreams.

~ Start now. You don't want to look back in ten years and realize that you're still at the same place in your life then as now. Even if you love your life now, growth is a necessary part of your evolvement on this planet. Every single day of your life is precious. Embrace it, and those you love, to the fullest.

Once you finally connect with something that has meaning to you, and your internal passion regarding this is accessed and utilized, your once deadened perception and reality will be pumped with new and energized life blood. I call this your Secret Spark, a perfect mix of meaning and passion that enlivens your life purpose and gives you the drive and stick-to-it-ness to make things happen. When you discover the soul in your business, your work will become stimulating and fun, and you'll be immersed in your satisfying activity and lose track of time.

Dreams are gifts of the soul.
We need to make every effort
to cherish them, to live them.
Otherwise they only surface in our sleep.
A soulful life is an awakening
and actualizing of our
deepest dreams within.
~Allison Maslan

Allison's book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality, will cut to the core of what is holding you back and give you the solutions and a step-by-step plan to reclaim and re-invent your life and career.

Allison Maslan, HHP, CCH has been an entrepreneur for the past 25 years and has a vibrant array of nine successful businesses to her credit. She is an author, life and business strategist, homeopathic physician and international speaker. Allison is the president of The Blast Off Life and Business Coaching. Through her years of working with thousands of clients on a one-on-one basis, she has come to understand how and why human beings create their own personal limits in every aspect of their lives. Her Blast Off One-on-One Coaching Program, and Blastation Interactive Life Coaching Software, help people tap into their passions, learn to release their self-limiting roadblocks, and guides them through a step-by-step flight plan for success and fulfillment in all areas of life.

Allison's book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality, will cut to the core of what is holding you back and give you the solutions and a step-by-step plan to reclaim and re-invent your life and career.

What is Your Perfect Day?

The question Oprah asked this week on ownTV was:

"What is your perfect day?"

And she posed this question to Celine Dion whose response was in essence:

"Home sweet home with the people I love most."

It's a response that many people would echo and yet for a host of reasons we don't get to enjoy that "perfect day" as often as we'd like to.

The trouble is though that when we aim for perfectionism we immediately place unrealistic expectations on ourselves and those around us and this can lead to unnecessary tension and stress. One way to overcome this is simply to aim to make each and every day as good as you can make it - squeeze as much juice as you can out of it.

1. Live in the present.

"Life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now."
Thich Nhat Hanh

So often we dwell on the past and what went wrong and we dream about the future and what could be. However, we have no power to change the past and our future is created by what we do in the present moment.

The present is the only place where we have any power and all too often we relinquish that power. To make the most of each and every day you have to live and act in the present. When you're able to do this effectively you will be able to create the future you desire. So reclaim your power and practice living in the present.

2. Take time out to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."
Confucius

I was behind the reception desk, filling in a form, at one of the centres where I teach and there was this little girl was leaning on the counter. She was surrounded by her mother and other siblings. Her eyes met mine and she gave me the most beautiful smile that truly lifted my heart. I felt a moment of such deep connection.

I returned the smile and when I was finished I walked around, bent down so I could speak to her. "Thank you," I said.

She beamed at me again and then I walked away. Before I turned to walk away I glimpsed the puzzlement on the faces of her family members. One of them asked, "What did you do?" And my smile grew even broader.

3. Be kind to people around you.

"Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns."
Anon

The wonderful thing about being kind to people is that you get an instant reward provided, of course, that you perform your act of kindness in the right frame of mind. Some people are kind because they expect some kind of reward in return and so if the person they've expressed kindness to is ungrateful or perhaps even rude it's very upsetting to them.

On the other hand, if you're just kind because you can without expecting anything in return you immediately feel good. And sometimes, unexpected things can follow on from that act of kindness although not necessarily immediately. It's as though your act of kindness was gaining interest.

4. Give those you engage with the gift of your presence.

"Presence is more than just being there."
Malcolm S. Forbes

Sometimes when I teach Pilates there are one or two individuals who are not fully present. Their bodies are in the room but their minds are elsewhere. I'm sure you've experienced similar situations. And I understand that these individuals may have a lot on their mind but I also know that if they're able to give their full attention to the class that afterwards they will feel refreshed both mentally and physically and that they will be in a better frame of mind to deal with whatever was occupying their thoughts.

Similarly, I'm rather intolerant when it comes to interruptions when I'm teaching or coaching. Interruptions take my attention away from those with whom I'm seeking to engage and who have engaged me and my services for that time.

5. Learn to see the good in everything.

"Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day."
Anon

You may be going through tough times or you may just be having one of those days. But have you ever noticed that when you're having one of those days and you keep focusing on what's going wrong that even more things go wrong?

However, when you pause, calm and centre yourself that things start to shift and start to get better.

So no matter how bad things are at the moment always look for what is good because you get what you're looking for. And, if all else fails, remember this:

"If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one."
Cavett Robert

Have a great day!

Life Lessons from the Earthquakes in Chile and Haiti

We're just two months into the New Year but we've already had several natural disasters including earthquakes in Haiti and now Chile. People will read all sorts of things into this state of affairs but I chose to accept these occurrences, despite how devastating they may seem to be, for what they are - natural disasters. And, I expect that, over the coming months, there will be many more and not because I'm a pessimist but because that's life.

There will be more lives lost, property destroyed and infrastructures disabled. I know it's heartbreaking to lose someone especially when it happens suddenly. And while it may initially feel devastating to lose your home and other material possessions these, at least, are things that can eventually be replaced.

The fact is that the earth's population is growing and so more and more people are living in areas which are prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and the like. Nature isn't being vengeful in any way. It just is. The occurrence of these events means that more people will be adversely affected. However, the extent to which we are affected by these events, to a large extent, is up to us.

And upon contemplation of recent events I saw several life lessons - lesson that we can apply to our personal lives to improve the quality of our lives.

The earthquakes occurring in Haiti and Chile make an interesting study. The magnitude of the Chilean Earthquake was 8.8 compared to 7.0 for the Earthquake in Haiti. The former was over 500 times more powerful than the latter. There were differences in the depth of the earthquake - the earthquake that affected Chile occurred at a depth of 21.7 miles whereas the one in Haiti was much closer to the surface at just 8.1 miles. And there were other differences as well such as geology and population density.

Still, the key factor that influenced the extent of the devastation in the respective countries was the quality of the buildings. This is something that many researchers have recognised including Colin Stark, Geomorphologist and Researcher at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory who said:

"The thing ultimately that decides how much damage there will be and how many people die is the quality of the buildings."

In Chile it is estimated that about 300 people have died. In Haiti more than 230,000 people have died and it is estimated that the death toll could reach 300,000, in other words 1,000 times that of Chile.

Chile is a wealthier country than Haiti. The nation's average annual income is $11,000 compared to $1,900 in Haiti but the state of affairs here is not just a matter of relative wealth. Chile has learnt from it experience of other earthquakes and has been rigorous in enforcing strict building codes. New buildings have to incorporate earthquake proofing so that they are strong and yet flexible and so sway and bend during temblors instead of breaking.

In contrast, the construction of buildings in Haiti is often a slap-dash affair. They are often built on a poor foundation with little reinforcements and the construction is such that the buildings are not even designed to withstand the test of time far less the force of an earthquake. And, unfortunately, corruption is such that building inspectors are bribed.

This speaks volumes not just about how we should build and how we should develop a country's infrastructure; it also provides a clear warning regarding how we should construct our lives and some important life lessons.

The extent to which we are affected by natural disasters or other crises depends upon several factors including:

~ Understanding and Paying Attention to Warning Signs
In life there are early warning signs when things are not going well and you have to know what the warning signs are. But it's not enough to know what the warning signs are and to be able to interpret them you have to take action - the right action.

Chile and Haiti both sit on top of large, volatile fault lines and so have been experienced several earthquakes. Chile decided to implement building codes that would make its buildings more earthquake proof. Haiti decided to play Russian roulette and paid the price.

~ How Well You React Under Pressure
President Michelle Bachelet demonstrated her leadership skills. She was quick to quick to address and reassure Chileans and visit devastated areas. She has been quick to help reassure her people about the Government's ability to respond to the destruction caused by the earthquake.

"The system is functioning. People should remain calm. We're doing everything we can with all the forces we have."
President Michelle Bachelet

Similarly, if you experience a crisis it's important to remain calm. You cannot think clearly when you are panicky. And when taking action, your effectiveness is diminished as well if you panic.

~ Knowing What to Do in Times of Crisis
One way to act calmly when experiencing a crisis is to know what to do and so you need a plan of action. While you don't want to live a life where you are always expecting the worst to happen it's important to know what to do in case of an emergency. Having an action plan can actually help you to remain calm because you don't have to think as much. You can immediately swing into action.

When it comes to responding to events such as earthquakes timing is critical when it comes to saving lives. And lives may be at stake when it comes to some of the situations you may have to deal with so learn what to do when it comes to dealing with certain crisis so that you can act in a timely and appropriate manner.

~ Having Flexible Plans in Place
In the event of a crisis it's often not enough to have just one action plan. Like earthquake-proof buildings you need to be flexible because things often don't unfold as you envisage them.

And one way to be flexible is to expand your skills set and or the resources that you can tap into in times of need. So examine the skills and resources that would be helpful should a crisis occur and see how best you can acquire those skills.

~ Having a Strong Foundation
One of the reasons why so many of the buildings in Haiti were completely flattened was because they didn't have a strong foundation. Therefore, it's important to examine your foundation and notice where there are weaknesses.

In some instances, you may simply need to fortify, whereas in other instances you may have to figuratively tear down structures and start rebuild. It might take a while and it might not be very exciting at first but what you will be able to construct as a result of having a strong foundation will be far superior and longer lasting to anything you construct without that foundation.

But, in taking all of this into account there's an important thing to bear in mind here. You don't want to focus on disaster preparedness or saving for that rainy day. As I've said before, bad things will happen but you don't want to live your life always expecting the worst to happen.

Think instead, that you're preparing yourself to live your best life, regardless of the circumstances that might befall you. And think instead of preparing yourself to take advantage of opportunities that might arise as a result of what might otherwise be seen as negative situations.

When you take this approach you'll find that you'll live more expansively. You'll also be more ready to fully embrace life and appreciate the miracle of not just life itself but of being alive because natural disasters have a way of reminding you just how fragile life can be and as Thich Nhat Hanh said in an interview with Oprah:

"Many people are alive but don't touch the miracle of being alive."

And then should disaster befall you, instead of crumpling in heap, you'll simply find a different way to stand.

References:
Poverty Predicts Quake Damage Better Than Richter Scale
Chile Quake One of Strongest on Record
Chile and Haiti: A Tale of Two Earthquakes

The Power of Intention in Achieving Your Goals, Part 2

So here's the conclusion to Peggy McColl's story about how she was able to buy her dream home even although she didn't have a lot of money. If you missed the first part of this article then simply click the link below:

The Power of Your Intention in Achieving Your Goals

I left the story where Peggy was awaiting the outcome of the draw for the dream home that she had bought a ticket for. Peggy had even wrote on her goal cards that she was living at the address of this fabulous home that so aptly matched her criteria for her dream home - talk about tapping into the power of intention.

The draw was on 07 December and Dr John Goodman won the home. Yes, you read that correctly, Peggy didn't win. And I know a lot of questions must be rushing through your mind right now but please be patient. All will be made clear.

There's a powerful lesson to be learnt here. Sometime when we set a goal we try set how the goal will be manifest and this does not always work. Just as there are different ways to achieve a particular goal, there can be different outcomes to a particular goal quest.

Was Peggy disappointed? Of course, she was - who wouldn't be? Did she feel defeated? No. She re-wrote her goal cards and re-affirmed her intention to purchase her dream home.

Here's the challenge. You have to really want to achieve your goal, have an emotional investment in wanting to achieve your goal and yet be detached from the outcome. You also have to be open to disguised opportunities that can help progress you towards your goal.

For instance, in the movie The Matrix, when Neo was told to follow the white rabbit I'm sure he didn't expect it to come in the form of a tattoo.

So several months went by and then one night Peggy was suddenly awakened from a deep sleep with the thought that she should buy a certain house. When she drove by the house the next day she discovered that it was for sale and so she called the agent and arranged a viewing.

Now bear in mind that, at this time Peggy still doesn't have the funds to go shopping for houses. However, she viewed the house and was delighted to find that this house also ticked all her boxes. The only problem was that she didn't have the money to buy the house but then an idea popped into her head.

She offered the agent a down payment of $3,000 as an occupancy fee with an agreement to settle the balance in 6 months time. Note too that Peggy wasn't in the habit of creating real estate deals - this idea came to her intuitively and she acted on it - another important lesson. When your intuition speaks not only listen to it but take action.

Peggy didn't even have $3,000 cash at the time but she had a credit card which she knew she could get an advance for that sum and that how she was able to come up with the occupancy fee. She told a close friend what she had done and this friend then helped her come up with an idea to raise $3,000. Now she just had to find the balance of the funding for the house – no sweat.

But Peggy did sweat. The months started to creep by and she didn't know how she would raise the balance. However, she kept telling herself that she would find a way and she continued with her visualization and other practices to help keep her focus on the outcome she desired. And when Peggy felt panicky she reminded herself that she didn't need to know how this situation would be resolved but she asked herself how would she feel when it was resolved.

The former was in the hands of the Universe whereas she was in control of the latter and so she practiced experiencing the feeling of having the money to honour her agreement and purchase her dream home. She also detached herself from the outcome by recognizing that the worst that could happen was that she would lose the house but that didn't equate to becoming homeless.

But she needed to raise the money by 01 December.

Now it so happened that the company she was working for had decided to go public. She'd managed to save some money and decided to invest in the company.

The date for the initial public offering was 26 October but it was postponed to 26 November.

She learnt that it if she sold her stock it would take four days for the transaction to be completed.

This was cutting it very fine.

However, she kept her faith. She was so confident that things would work out this time around that she planned a party for 01 December and had bought champagne for the celebrations. (This reminds me of the story of the 2006 Olympic champion, Antoine Dénériaz, who won the skiing downhill race in the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. He was so confident that he would win that he also bought champagne beforehand to celebrate. You can read my post Positive Thinking - Does it Work? for that story.)

When Peggy's company went public the price of the shares soared. She sold and made a handsome profit and was able to buy her dream home.

Don't ever give up on your dreams. And don't let people tell you that you're being unreasonable and unrealistic when it comes to setting your goals because no one knows what is reasonable or realistic until you invoke the power of intention and take action to achieve your goals.

Peggy McColl is just one of many incredible teachers and personal development experts who is featured in the teleseminar series:

Tools to Reclaim Your Power

At the time of writing this post the free recording of the John Assaraf teleseminar is still available - another great teleseminar. And so if you'd like to hear great content that can help you identify where you're losing power in your life and how you can generate even more power to help you achieve your goals and dreams then do tune in to this teleseminar series.

All of the guests are also offering extraordinary discounts on a selection of their products - 75% and more in some cases. However, these generous discounts are only avail through this teleseminar series and for a limited time only. So there you have it - lots of great reasons to click the link below and sign up for the Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar series:

www.ToolsToReclaimYourPower.com

The Power of Your Intention in Achieving Your Goals

I listened to the Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar last night where Lisa Garr interviewed the New York Times bestselling author Peggy McColl. In this teleseminar, one of the things that Peggy talked about was how she was able to buy her dream home at a time when she had very little money.

I strongly believe that the greater your emotional investment in the goals you set the more likely it is that you will achieve them. And I believe that's it's imperative to stay focused on what you want because whatever you focus on you'll manifest. Yet, I was also struck by the differences and similarities in Peggy McColl's story about getting her dream home and that of John Assaraf, one of my favourite business coaches and the best-selling author of "Having It All: Achieving Your Life's Goals and Dreams".

I've shared John Assaraf's story in a previous post:

The Power of Visualization to Achieve Your Goals and Manifest Your Dreams

John Assaraf created a vision board on which he placed a picture he's cut out from a magazine of a home he very much admired. He moved house and packed away his vision boards. He bought a new home and spent time renovating it to his style and taste and so it was a while before he fully unpacked.

One day, his son came into his office and asked him what was in one of the storage boxes he was about to tell his son about the vision boards but realised that it would be easier if he simply showed him the vision boards.

However, when opened the box he was stunned because he realised that the picture of the house on his vision board was actually the home he was now living in.

John Assaraf clearly set his intention about the type of home he desired and by placing an image of a home that represented that desire on his vision board he effectively communicated this intention to his sub-conscious mind. However, it would seem that, to some degree at least, he then let go and simply focused daily on the action steps that would move him forward personally and in his business. Further, it would appear that the power of intention was so strong that he was able to manifest his goals and dreams.

Peggy McColl's story is somewhat different. She had very little money but she didn't allow that to deter her from clearly identifying the type of home she wanted. As well as the basics such as its general layout and the number of respective rooms she wanted her home to have she also identified that she wanted the home to be located near trails where she and her then young son could go walking and riding.

She then wrote her goals regarding her dream home on several goal cards. A goal card is simply a card about the size of a 3x5 index card that you write your goals on - in the present tense as though you've already achieved it and with emotionally charged language.

Peggy McColl visited show homes and open houses and her then by-now ex-husband was totally bemused and thought she was wasting her time but she persisted. Then she heard about a competition to win a dream home and this home ticked all the right boxes. It exactly matched her description of her ideal home. In addition, it was fully furnished, came with a car, free groceries for a year, legal expenses were paid.

So Peggy McColl bought a $100 ticket to enter the competition - for as they say, you have to be in it to win it. And then she went into overdrive. She visited the home which was an open show home for the duration of the competition not just once but several times. She visualised living in this house.

She tried out the furniture and even got into the bath tub - fully clothed, of course. She imagined what it would be like living in that home. She eagerly anticipated the draw which was for 07 December...

Rather than write an overly long post I'll complete this story in my next post. If you don't want to wait that long then simply register for the tools to reclaim your power teleseminar series at:

http://www.toolstoreclaimyourpower.com/

And you'll receive details regarding the replay of this teleseminar. If the replay period has already passed you have the option of purchasing the MP3s, CDs and transcripts so you can listen to the teleseminars or read what was said at your convenience.

Today, it's the turn of John Assaraf who is one of my favourite business coaches to be interviewed. And you can tune in for free simply by registering at the link below:

Tools to Reclaim Your Power

Tools to Reclaim Your Power: An Interview with Bestselling Author Peggy McColl

The Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar series continues with an interview with the New York Times bestselling author Peggy McColl. Her books include:

~ 21 Distinctions of Wealth: Attract the Abundance You Deserve,
~ The Won Thing: The "One" Secret to a Totally Fulfilling Life, and
~ Be a Dog With a Bone: Always Go for Your Dreams.

The titles of Peggy McColl's books alone say a great deal about the person she is.

She defines her purpose in life as to "make a positive contribution to the lives of millions of others" and she is certainly fulfilling this and not just through her books but also through her audio programs, mentoring programs, courses, teleclasses, public speaking and more.

Not only is she a bestselling author, Peggy McColl also teaches authors and aspiring authors to achieve this prestigious status, build their brand and expand their business.

Bob Proctor describes her as "an amazing success coach".

So if you're looking for tools to reclaim your power Peggy McColl certainly has a few answers - even if at this time in your life you're feeling stuck and overwhelmed as so many people are.

"The reason people are 'stuck' is really quite simple and so is the solution!"
Peggy McColl

Some of the things that drain you of your power include fear, anger, frustration and anxiety.

Peggy can show you how to get rid of those power-draining negative emotions that block you from fulfilling your potential and achieving your goals and dreams.

~ Discover how replace fear and anxiety with calm and peace.
~ Discover how to eliminate self-destructive behaviour.
~ Learn how to turn defeat into success.

So make sure you register for this teleseminar at the link below:

Tools to Reclaim Your Power

And register for this teleseminar even if you're unable to make the live event because then you'll have access to the 48-hour replay.

Achieve Your Goals by Harnessing the Power of Visualization and an Unshakeable Self-Belief

The following story demonstrates how it is possible to achieve your goals by harnessing the power of visualization and self-belief.

John Reese was working in a video store - a low-wage paying job that, thankfully, was to be his last J.O.B. You see John Reese had a dream - a big dream. He wanted to become a successful entrepreneur - a millionaire entrepreneur.

Every day he would take to work with him two magazines - Entrepreneur Magazine where he could learn about business and be inspired by successful business owners and entrepreneurs and Auto Trader where he look at Porsches that were for sale. John Reese had, and still has, a passion for fast cars.

"When I had nothing I was already driving Ferraris and Porsches and stuff because I always wanted those cars. I already knew I was going to have those cars. It was inevitable. That was just my inevitable outcome."
John Reese

When asked what he was doing with the Auto Trader magazine John Reese would calmly say:

"I'm picking out the Porsche I'm going to buy."

People looked at him as though he was out of his mind and sniggered behind his back. His boss even took him aside and said to him:

"You know you really shouldn't do that to yourself, John because it's very, very, likely that is never going to happen. It's very likely that you're never going to have that car."

Surrounded with such negativity many people would've just shelved their dreams but John Reese was different. His self-belief was so strong that he didn't care what anyone told him. If anything, people's negativity simply made him more determined.

"No you don't realise that's it's inevitable that I will drive here sometime in the near future with that car when I'm not working for you and drop movies off for you to put back on the shelf."
John Reese

And so he continued to read his magazines and work towards achieving his goal.

According to the Law of Polarity everything has its opposite. And so just as you can think and believe that something is not possible so you can think and believe that something is possible. And as Wayne Dyer, author of "Excuses Begone!: How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits" says, realistically you don't know with absolute certainty how something is going to turn out. No matter how strong your self-belief - no one has a crystal ball.

However, as Les Brown says:

"Whatever you focus on the longest becomes the strongest."

So you can choose to believe that something isn't possible and so consequently you act to support that particular belief and so manifest its inevitable outcome or you can believe the opposite. You can believe that something is possible and so act to support that belief and, in many cases you will achieve your desired outcome.

And even if you don't achieve your desired goal what you will succeed in doing if you believe that you can achieve your goal will far surpass what you will achieve if you believe otherwise. And, personally, I believe it's so much more exciting and empowering to believe in something that will enrich your life.

As for John Reese, true to his word, the day arrived when he drove up to the video store in his Porsche 911 Turbo convertible. Even although it was years later some of the individuals he had left behind were still working at that store. There were gasps of admiration.

"Wow! That is awesome! Is that your dad's car?"

With a smile he merely replied:

"Not exactly."

He didn't feel the need to say "I told you so". He had nothing to prove to these individuals, he had proved to himself what he could achieve using the power of visualization, the power of self-belief, sheer determination and hard work.

John Reese went on to achieve Internet Marketing history. Although his record has since been broken many times he will always remain the first person to earn a million dollars in a single day on the Internet but that's another story.

However, what I will add is this. He was so sure that he would accomplish this goal that he purchased the domain name MillionDollarDaydotcom a week before the scheduled date of his product launch.

And by harnessing the power of visualization, having an unshakable self-belief and taking action you too can achieve your goals.

Special Resource

John Reese has created a special 4-module program to help individuals program their minds for success. To find out full details and to take Module 1 for a FREE 'test-drive' simply click the link below:

Your Money Mindset

Improving Your Decision-Making Skills to Achieve Greater Success

In my previous post I talked about the importance of developing your decision-making skills and how Oprah goes about making big decisions. Essentially, she has what can be described as a mastermind group with whom she consults, she listens to what everyone has to say and she tunes into how she feels about what they everyone has to say and then she makes a decision.

Having a mastermind or a group of trusted advisors is an excellent idea. You want to have individuals that are experts on the key elements of your project as well as someone who may not be an expert but is savvy enough to be able to evaluate a clear proposition. Napoleon Hill talks about the value of having a mastermind in his book "Think and Grow Rich".

Now, there will be occasions when you will not be able to physically access your mastermind group. However, you can still tap into their collective wisdom. Again, this is a technique that Hill talks about in his book and it's also discussed in the chapter "The Master Mind Principle" in the book by Dr Win Wagner and Richard Poe called "The Einstein Factor: A Proven New Method for Increasing Intelligence".

It simply involves using your imagination and what you know of the characters of the individuals in your mastermind. You can then ask each member of your mastermind what they would do if placed in your situation or ask what advice they would give. The better you know these individuals the better the quality of the responses that you'll be able to invoke using this method.

Another key factor in Oprah's decision-making process is her feelings.

We are emotionally beings, although we often try to inhibit our emotions. In fact, there was an interesting movie called Equilibrium starring Christian Bale and Taye Diggs which was based on the premise of a world where the expression of your emotions was strictly forbidden - a bizarre world indeed. But humans are naturally designed to be emotive (and with good reason) the citizens of Equilibrium had to take a drug on a daily basis to inhibit their emotions but of course some people rebelled against this. However, I digress.

The point is you can detect things via your emotions that you may not even be able to articulate. And your feelings are very important when it comes to making a big decision. For instance, your feelings about a particular situation will tell you whether or not you are in integrity. And so if you make a decision but feel bad about it, then generally you can expect that things will not work out well.

However another element in becoming a great decision-maker is being able to make decisions in a timely manner. When it comes to making business decisions some people spend far too long trying to decide whether or not to give something a go. And they end up in a state of limbo where they don't take action on that particular business decision and consequently don't take action on other business decisions as well.

The individuals who achieve the greatest success in business are generally the ones who've also had the greatest number of failures. The trouble is that you often get too attached to the outcome of a project. If the project is a success you feel like a success and if the project fails you feel like a failure. If you're willing to accept that the outcome of a project does not define you then you'll find it easier to make business decisions. For as Internet Marketer Willie Crawford said in a recent teleseminar where he was discussing his "Master Blueprint to Internet Marketing":

"I'm willing to take a calculated risk on a business idea and so I do as much research as I can, I do my due diligence but I don't but I don't let it paralyse me from making a decision. I realise that some of the decisions I make aren't going to work out."

However, as time moves on and you gain more experience, you'll find that you'll become better at selecting and developing winning business ideas. For your decision-making skills, like any other skill, improves with practice and the more you improve your decision-making skills the easier you'll find it will be to achieve greater success.

Decision-Making - A Critical Success Factor

This week Oprah on ownTV Oprah asked the question:

"How do you make big decisions?"

This is an important question because the quality of our lives is based upon the decisions we make and to become very successful in life you need to be an excellent decision-maker.

I was watching a program called "The Sky At Night" which reminded me of this question. It's not a program I normally watch, in fact I don't normally watch television at all these days but anyway I happened to catch this particular program and I found it really interesting - not just the content but how passionate the scientists were about the subject. They were discussing the exploration of Mars.

One of the ways in which NASA has been studying Mars is through the use of Mars Exploration Rovers. One of these rovers is called Opportunity and during the program one of the scientists spoke about the decision-making process regarding exploring a huge crater named Victoria.

For months scientists agonised over the decision about whether or not to give the go-ahead for exploration of Victoria Crater. To put the length of this decision-making process into perspective the life-expectancy of a rover was initially estimated to be just 3 months. Fortunately, Opportunity, along with another rover called Spirit, has been going for over six years now.

There was concern that if Opportunity descended into the crater that it might malfunction or not be able to get back out of the crater again. It was definitely a risky undertaking. However, the scientists decided to take a calculated risk because the opportunity (no pun intended) was simply too big to miss out on. When Alan Stern, NASA's Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate announced the decision he acknowledged the risks and then added:

"...the science could occupy us not just for days or weeks, but for months. This is why I've authorized the rover to go into the crater."

There are several parallels in this story to our decision-making process. People often take ages to make a decision. In this case, it may have been warranted because there was a lot at stake. This is obviously a very costly operation and the scientists want to maximise the opportunity. But beyond the cost and scientific implications, as strange as it may seem, the scientists care about these robotic probes almost as though they were their offspring.

We're often afraid to make decisions because we're afraid of the consequences of our decisions. And so we often procrastinate for days, weeks, months and even years before making a decision. Think of all the opportunities that are lost during this time. And what's worse, during this time there's often little or no action regarding the issue in question. And so you don't make progress. At least Opportunity was making her way to Victoria Crater, and continuing to make fascinating discoveries along the way.

We afraid that we might fail in our quest and end up in a deep 'hole' that we're unable to extricate ourselves from. And that the decision we make may literally spell out the end for us.

The reality is that very few of the decisions we make have such dire consequences. The right decision is generally a chance to for us to move forward in the direction of our goals or dreams even if the decision turns out not to be the best decision. You see, even if something doesn't work out, so long as we learn from the experience, all is not lost. And sometimes the lessons we learn from a decision that doesn't quite go in our favour become critical factors later in our quest to achieve our goals.

There were times during the descent when Opportunity got stuck and simply spun its wheels but it overcame these challenges and reached ground where it had more traction. After making a big decision, you too may find that you become stuck and you may find yourself in a place where you don't feel as though you're making any progress but if you persevere you'll be able to overcome these challenges.

So by all means, when it comes to making a big decision, by all means do your due diligence – your risk assessment. But then listen to your intuition, make a decision and then take action.

So what was Oprah's response to this question?

"I have a kitchen cabinet of friends who I surround myself with in times of big decisions. And there've been a few major decisions I've had in my life where I bring that cabinet of friends together and just go around the table and ask what do you think, what do you think, what do you think. And I listen to what everybody has to say. And then I listen mostly to what I am feeling based upon what everybody is saying and then I make a decision."



Opportunity's Odyssey to Victoria Crater

Broaden Your Skill Set to Achieve Greater Success, Part 2 of 2

If you missed the first part of this article click the link below:

Broaden Your Skill Set to Achieve Greater Success, Part 1 of 2

In order to broaden your skill set it's also important that you are open to learning and that when knowledge is available to you that you study it and put it into action. Many people buy books, DVDs, courses and some never even open them far less read the content. Some people acquire certain books just so they can have an impressive-looking library and while some people are well-read they never seem to get to the stage where they actually apply their knowledge.

And the conclusion to the story I started to relate in Part 1 of this article illustrates this very point.

The health crisis Caroline Myss' brother experienced reached a stage where his wife felt she could no longer stand idly. Together with Caroline she stormed into the psychiatrist's office where the wife threw the bag of drugs onto the floor saying:

"You're going to tell me how this is healing my husband."

Meanwhile, Caroline Myss was taking in the psychiatrist's office and was taken aback when she noticed a familiar book on bookshelf.

The book was called "Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing".

Now, in addition to outrage she also felt a sense of surrealism. Her eyes kept darting from the psychiatrist to the bookshelf as though she couldn't quite comprehend what she was seeing.

Then she walked over to the bookshelf, pulled the book off the shelf and then walked back towards the psychiatrist where she thrust it under her nose.

"I wrote this book," she declared whereupon the psychiatrist replied eagerly:

"Would you autograph it for me?"

Personally, I find it hard to believe that the psychiatrist had even read this book. How could someone read this book and not understand that some 'illnesses' cannot be healed by pills?

But perhaps she had read the book but didn't have the skills to put this knowledge into action. That's fine because the reading of one book does not make you an expert but one would hope that she would be willing to recognise her limitations in this area and seek to expand her knowledge and skill set so that she could better serve those who sought her expertise.

So examine the areas of your life where you'd like to experience growth. Ask yourself what are skills you need in order to grow and become successful in this area. Ask yourself how you can acquire these skills, then set about to learn this skills and put them into action. Unless you do the latter step you really haven't properly learnt your new skills.

And when you do broaden your skill set you'll find that your whole world will expand, you'll have a richer experience of life and achieve greater success.

Caroline Myss is one of 24 experts in the field of human potential who will be part of a special teleseminar series called "Tools to Reclaim Your Power". For full details and to register for this series so you can listen to the teleseminars for FREE plus gain access to some fabulous resources at an amazing discount please click the link below:

Tools to Reclaim Your Power

Broaden Your Skill Set to Achieve Greater Success, Part 1 of 2

The depth and range of your skills will help to determine how well you deal with the challenges you face in life. This doesn't mean that you should strive to be a jack of all trades. It's often better to delegate or outsource certain tasks but even delegating and outsourcing are skills you have to learn how to do effectively. Therefore to achieve greater success in your personal as well as professional life you need to broaden your skill set.

Another reason you need to broaden your skill set is to keep pace with our rapidly changing world. The world is evolving at a dizzying pace and, if you're not flexible enough to evolve with it, you'll simply get left behind.

People often erroneously think that more successful people have fewer problems to deal with. This is not necessarily the case. In fact, they often have more and bigger problems to deal with but, to their advantage they generally have a bigger skill set with which to deal with any problems that they encounter. So while in some cases they may have more resources to apply to a particular problem, because they have a broader skill set they are also more resourceful.

However, here's a story that acutely demonstrates how injurious failing to broaden your skill set can be.

Caroline Myss opened one of her keynote speeches with, what was very clearly a painful and personal story about her younger brother. At the time, she had just learnt that he was receiving treatment for drug withdrawal. In case you may be thinking that he was a drug addict let me hasten to tell you that he was not - at least not in the conventional sense.

Her brother sought the help of a psychiatrist to help him overcome an anxiety problem he was experiencing. The psychiatrist prescribed medication and following other subsequent monthly 15-minute consultations continued to prescribe more and more drugs for this man who was supposed to be in her care. The situation reached a climax when he was taking 17 different drugs a day, twice a day.

You don't need a medical degree to deduce that instead of getting better both the mental and physical health of this individual declined rapidly and drastically. And, sadly, you may know of similar stories for this is far too prevalent in our society today.

The irksome thing is that this man didn't even need drugs in the first place. He needed, for want of a better term, coaching. With skilful coaching he could have worked through the issues he was facing. It might have been a painful experience but it could have been made exciting and liberating. And I'm not talking about a process that stretches on for months or even years - we've come too far for that type of approach where, instead of healing people simply end up wallowing in their pain.

This psychiatrist decided to treat this man's symptoms by numbing them and then, when that didn't work, she simply prescribed more and more drugs to numb other symptoms and counteract the side effects that the initial drugs were causing.

She had one primary tool and she used it relentlessly. For as Abraham Maslow said:

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."

This story is extreme. In fact, I find it disturbing but it does demonstrate the critical importance of broadening your skill set.

But this story doesn't end here. I'll share the conclusion in Part 2. Meanwhile, do take advantage of the following...

FREE Resource

For a FREE report that reveals how your lack of skills is preventing you from achieving greater success visit Broaden Your Skill Set and discover how you can achieve greater success.

A Powerful Business Lesson from Dame Vivienne Westwood

To celebrate the launch of London Fashion Week, 18-24 February, Stylist Magazine recently asked three fashion icons Dame Vivienne Westwood, Manolo Blahnik and Giles Deacon to design a cover for their magazine and that's as far as their brief went.

The ensuing designs couldn't have been more different and while I didn't really like the design by Vivienne Westwood I was struck by the fact that she was the only one whose design was about something other than fashion and this prompted me to read her interview.

What stood out for me in this interview was her response to the question what other designers are you looking forward to seeing:

"I'm very sorry but I never follow fashion so I don't know. My time is occupied by doing my own collections and then what's called 'all these other things' – like going to galleries and concerts and reading. It would be lovely to be able to give some encouragement to young people, but I haven't seen anything and I don't know anybody."

I suspect that within this answer is partially at least the secret to Vivienne Westwood's success and, by the same token, the reason why so many entrepreneurs and business owners fail.

Vivienne Westwood is incredibly focused.

Now I know that one could deduce other things from this statement but no one achieves great success without being focused. And I admit that her approach has its drawbacks. For instance, one would imagine that she could gain inspiration from other designers and she herself admitted that she would like to encourage more upcoming designers, but it would seem that she draws her inspiration from lots of other sources. And she has clearly developed her own winning formula that has kept her on the cutting edge of fashion for nearly two decades.

It's so easy for aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs to get distracted these days. There's always the next best thing to try out. It's also easy to get distracted in the day-to-day minutiae, flitting from one thing to the next, to be busy and yet not productive.

Just as personal development experts accept that you become what you think about, business experts are unanimous in stating that lack of focus is a key stumbling block for the majority of business owners and entrepreneurs. However, here's the dilemma or dichotomy of being focused. You see you have to be focused on the task at hand and you also have to focus on your grand vision of how you see your business enterprise developing in the future.

Maintaining your focus on your future goals will help you achieve your goals if, and only if, you're also able to balance this with remaining focused on and completing your first and highest leveraged task in the present, and then transferring your focus to completing the next most important task and so on.

Reclaim Your Power - Limit Your Exposure to Negative People

Motivational Speaker, Les Brown is fond of saying that some people are so negative that if you put them into a dark room they'll start to develop and in the Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar and after talking about a telephone call he received that day that wasn't very positive he issued the following warning:

"Limit the exposure that you allow people to have to you who don't bring you good news."

We are literally surrounded by negativity. It's on the television. It's on the radio. Negativity is blazoned across many of our magazines and newspapers. However, as well as what you consciously see and hear you can also pick up negativity on a subliminal or sub-conscious level as well. The degree to which you resonate with these negative messages will affect your level of receptivity to them.

However, if you're reading this then it's reasonable to assume that you're an ambitious person who wants to be successful in life or become even more successful. To achieve this goal you must safeguard your mind although your mind may be where the trouble begins.

Many people have what is like a tape playing over and over in their mind and unfortunately, not only is most of it negative but 90% of the time it goes unoticed. With all this negativity it's a wonder that anyone achieves success.

To achieve success you have to develop the right mindset.

"You have to deliverately program your mind for success; life will program you for failure."
Les Brown

Some people make the mistake of sharing their goals and dreams with people who are not supportive. And studies have shown that for every time someone ridicules your goal or dream that it takes 17 reassurances to counteract the negative statement.

Some people are able to use other people's negativity as fuel but this isn't always easy to do. So when your goals and dreams are in the incubation stage – protect them for they are vulnerable. Shield them from negativity.

Les Brown shared much more in his Tools to Reclaim Your Power interview including:

~ What you must absolutely guard yourself against.
~ Just why it's generally such a challenge to express our full potential in life.
~ How people let the media usurp their power.
~ 3 key reasons why people remain stuck and living in fear.
~ The value of your story and your ability to communicate strategically.
~ Tips on how to be an engaging public speaker.
~ The importance of getting out of your own way when it comes to delivering your message.
~ Why you must deliberately program your mind for success.
~ How the likes of Earl Nightingale and Dr Norman Vincent Peale had a positive influence on Les Brown even while he was still a child.

The bad news is that the period to listen to the free replay has expired. The good news is you can still listen for free to interviews with 22 other world-renowned personal development experts by simply clicking the link below and registering to receive updates about the Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar series.

Tools to Reclaim Your Power
You also have the option of paying for the recordings so that you can have the convenience of listening to the entire teleseminar series wherever and whenever you choose, including the Les Brown interview.

The next teleseminar will feature Michael Tamura, a Master Teacher, Visionary, Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant, and Pioneer in the field of psychic development. He is also the author of the award-winning book, "You Are The Answer". Michael Tamura helps guide people to true destiny and life purpose so do sign up for this teleseminar to learn more about unlocking your true destiny and discovering your purpose.

Tools to Reclaim Your Power – Reclaiming Your Health And More With Dr Norm Shealy

The Tools to Reclaim Your Power Teleseminar Series got off to a great start last week with neurosurgeon Dr Norm Shealy.

This teleseminar series is very timely. We live in an age where there are unprecedented demands on our energy and unless we learn how to recognise the drains we have on our energy as well as how we can replenish our energy what we are able to accomplish will be limited. What's more energy drains can also lead to ill-health.

In his interview with Lisa Garr, Dr Norm Shealy said that the standard American diet can reduce the average lifespan by six years, can cause disease at the end of our lifespan for up to 20 years and can even cause death.

He also talked about the importance of controlling negative emotions such as anger, guilt, anxiety and depression:

"You cannot afford what I call the luxury of anger, guilt, anxiety or depression over anything – it doesn't matter what it is. If you are angry, depressed, etc. it's going to cause disease sooner or later. And it's going to cause disease, in general, in the part of your body which is most fragile that is genetically acquired as well as emotionally because there are connections between various parts of the body and emotions."

Here are some of the other highlights of Dr Shealy's interview:

~ The types of stress you should be aware of and safeguard yourself against.
~ Some of Dr Shealy's own lifestyle practices for staying fit and healthy.
~ Common allergens for sufferers of migraines.
~ What over-the-counter drug taken for headaches and migraines can actually aggravate migraines.
~ The characteristics commonly associated with individuals who suffer from dysfunctions of the thyroid or spleen and migraines.
~ A simple, easy-to-learn and practice technique that is effective in 80% of all known.
~ Tips on how to overcome insomnia and anxiety.
~ Tips on how to improve your memory.
~ Tips on how to live to be 100 and beyond.
~ Why regular exercise is so important and guidelines on the minimum amount of exercise you should aim to achieve in your daily routine.

The free 48 hours replay for this interview is no longer available but you can actually pay for the recordings of this and other interviews and then you can listen to the recordings at your leisure and convenience.

Tools to Reclaim Your Power

Living a Life Without Regrets

The big question Oprah asked on ownTV this week was:

"Do you have any regrets?"

And her personal response was:

"I live with no regrets, I can't think of one. I think that living with regret is such a waste of energy is such a waste of time. You are just boring yourself because you cannot change the past - absolutely cannot change it and it's wasted energy.

"Anything I might have regretted, anything I might have thought - 'hmm I maybe shouldn't have done that...' - I use that energy to focus to it on the future."
Oprah

And I agree although it not always easy to live your life this way. If I said I lived a life with no regrets I'd be lying but it's something I'm working on and getting better at day-by-day.

I believe that the critical element in what Oprah has said is to remember that "you cannot change the past". No matter how awful something you may have said or done, or perhaps you wish you had said or done something, you simply cannot change it and so to continue to dwell upon this really is wasted energy.

The world we live in is so technologically advanced and is continuing to change at such a dramatic pace. However, on a biological level our bodies adapt much more slowly and the fact is that on a biological level our bodies are not keeping pace. This means that now, more than ever before, we have to safeguard our energy and we have to learn ways to safely build and replenish our energy.

In other words, we simply cannot afford to allow our energy to drain away into regrets over our past. It is totally wasted there. We have to learn how to reclaim any energy we're leaking over regrets so that it is available for us to use now in the present so that we can create our desired future. Otherwise, what happens is that our lives become a vicious circle.

Now just because you eliminate your regrets doesn't mean that you don't learn from those, for want of a better word, "negative experiences". One of the biggest regrets I hear people talk about relates to time spent with family members and loved ones. There are all sorts of distractions that can get in the way of our spending more quality time with those we care about. But you often have to lose something or risk losing it before you realise how precious it is to you.

I believe that our lives, for the most part, are meant to be joyful. If this is the case then carrying a burden of regrets is counterproductive.

So how can we become better at living a life of no regrets? Here are three tips...

1. Exist in the Present
Fully exist in the present moment. In other words aim to give whatever you set out to do 100% of your attention. You will achieve better results in a shorter space of time when you do this.

2. Map Out Your Vision
Spend time to clearly map out your vision of what you want from life. This will help you to make better decisions so that you spend your time doing the things that will move you towards your goals rather than away from them.

3. Evaluate Each Day
Spend time at the end of each day evaluating your day – the things that went well and the things that didn't turn out so well and why. You can use this information to make better plans for the new day. This will also make it easier for you to spot those occasions when your best option is to bailout so you don't spend any longer than necessary in that particular situation.

And remember as heart surgeon, Internet entrepreneur and founder of the Dr Mani Children Heart Foundation, Dr Mani said:

"And in the end, have no regrets. We are all human and therefore imperfect. We will always make mistakes. And that's ok. Yes, things could have been better. But they could also have been worse.

"The only question you must ask yourself is this: 'Did I do my best?'"

Risking It All to Achieve Your Goals and Dreams

Video: Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez Part 1

Ruben Gonzalez is 47 years old and he is currently competing in his fourth Olympics. He is not a medal contender but he has already broken one record. He is the first athlete to compete in four different winter Olympics in four different decades - 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s.

And along the way he's broken numerous bones to achieve his dream of competing in the Olympics. Ruben Gonzalez's personal Olympic flame was ignited when he was just 10 years old. After watching the winter Olympics he know that that was the "adventure" he wanted to be part of.

Later, when 21 years old, he was watching the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia and caught sight of the Canadian Scott Hamilton who won gold in figure skating. He thought to himself if such a "little guy" could achieve Olympic glory then he could too.

There was just one hitch.

He wasn't a great athlete but Ruben Gonzalez didn't let that stop him. In fact, he says that what impressed him most about the Olympics was not the athleticism of the competitors but their spirit. And what Ruben Gonzalez lacked in athleticism he more than made up for in spirit.

"I wasn't a great athlete so my plan was to find a sport that was so tough, that had so many broken bones in it that there'd be a lot of quitters only I wouldn't quit. I chose the luge."

Now he had another hitch. You see, Ruben Gonzalez lived in hot, humid Texas - hardly the place to train for the winter Olympics. (And you thought it was only the Jamaican bobsleigh team that had problems!)

So he contacted Lake Placid, explained his quest and asked if they'd help him to train but when he mentioned his age he was almost instantly dismissed. He was told that to start to train for the luge at his age was "brutal" and that nine out of ten people quit.

This was exactly what Ruben Gonzalez wanted to hear.

He finally convinced the officials to let him train and compete for his native South American country, Argentina.

During the first two years of his training he was crashing four out of five times but he didn't quit. The third year his crashing percentage was one percent. In other words, he was crashing just once in every 100 runs he did. He'd cracked it! And in the fourth year he made the Olympic team.

He made his dream come true.

Lesson #1
And this is a huge lesson that you should take from Ruben Gonzalez's story. Most people are so afraid of failing that they don't even try. And yet for most people, failing doesn't mean possible bruises and broken bones. For the most part when you fail the thing that gets bruised is your ego.

He admits that in the early years he was scared to death hurtling along that icy track on his sled. He had to continually push the boundaries of his comfort zone because as he improved he got faster and so it became scarier. Thankfully, through working with a sports psychologist he has now overcome his fears and can now fully enjoy the experience. But even when he was afraid he kept going because of his Olympic dream.

Lesson #2
You have to make your dream bigger than your fears. It's the only way you'll have the courage to continually face your fears.

"Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing."

Ruben Gonzalez says that what helped him to keep going was visualizing the opening ceremony of the Games. He visualized with all his senses. It was as if he was actually there in person.

Lesson #3
Tap into the awesome power of your imagination to visualize your goals. Remember that your sub-conscious mind cannot differentiate between something that is real and something that is vividly imagined.

"Vivid visualizations are fuel for your dreams."
John Assaraf

Now, if you've been following the 2010 winter Olympics then you would have heard the tragic news of the death of the Georgian luge athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili, during the final training session at the Whistler Sliding Centre. He died after crashing on the last corner of the course during training.

Georgia's small team of athletes (three alpine skiers, three figure skaters and another luger) did consider withdrawing from the Games but decided to continue - another testament to the spirit of Olympic athletes.

The death of this athlete helps to put into perspective the courage and bravery of lugers and just what an accomplishment Ruben Gonzalez has achieved. It is ironic that the young Nodar Kumaritashvili died at an age when Ruben Gonzalez was just starting out on his Olympic journey.

Ruben Gonzalez has achieved his dream of becoming an Olympic athlete and he says that one of the reasons he competes is to inspire other individuals to become Olympic athletes. It's my wish that you find and achieve your goal and dream whether it be an Olympic dream or simply an Olympic-sized dream.

"If you have a dream and you're willing to go for it and if you refuse to quit, you can make that dream come true."
Ruben Gonzalez

Video: Olympic Motivational Speaker Ruben Gonzalez Part 2